"The" Knife

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Many years ago, my father sent overseas to purchase a Gurkha Kukri ceremonial knife. This knife is held in a leather scabbard along with two smaller knives. It is very decorative and extremely sharp.

Although it was shown on many occasions to visitors, it was only put to use at extra special times, like weddings, engagements and birthdays.

When my father passed away, the knife was passed on to me for safe keeping and the continued use, as he had done.

To this day we have continued the tradition of only using it when a special occasion calls for it. We also only use it for immediate family members.

Over the years we have drawn the knife for special age birthdays, such as 21st 50th, 60th and 65th as well as engagements and weddings.

At my own wedding, while doing the usual skylarking, I dropped the knife and nearly impaled my new wife’s foot. Not the greatest way to start a marriage.

The latest use was at my wife’s 65th birthday and this time I didn’t drop it.

I once told my younger sister that it was used for circumcisions. I won’t tell you what she said, but be assured, it wasn’t.
The handle is highly decorated, with fine engraving on the blade.

So where does the saying “The” Knife come from.

Over the years, when we are having a special occasion, usually someone would say, “Are you using the knife”? and now we traditionally refer to it as “The” knife.

One day it will be passed onto one of our sons and hopefully he will continue with the tradition.

Some say the knife comes from Burma and others say it is from Nepal. Where it comes from doesn’t matter to me as my concern is that it came to me from my dad.

The following is an encyclopaedia description.

The kukri (originally spelled khukri or khukuri) is a curved Nepalese Knife used as both a tool and as a weapon. It is a traditional weapon for Nepalese people, and also a weapon of choice/side arm for all Nepalese including those serving in different armies around the world.

The cutting edge is inwardly curved in shape and is the icon of Nepal. It was, and in many cases still is, the basic and traditional utility knife of the Nepalese people. Very effective when used as a weapon, it is a symbolic weapon of the Nepalese Army, and of all Gurkha regiments throughout the world, signifying the courage and valour of the bearer in the battlefield. It is a part of the regimental weaponry and heraldry of the Royal Gurkha Rifles, and is used in many traditional rituals among different ethnic groups of Nepal, including one where the groom has to wear it during the wedding ceremony. It is known to many people as simply the "Gurkha blade" or "Gurkha knife".

The pronunciation "Kukri" is of western origin, the Nepalese people to whom this weapon belongs pronounce it as "Khukuri."

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